"I want you to tell me where you're going when you leave, Victoria."
She sighed. "I'm not used to having to answer to anyone," she told him.
"I know you're not. I understand that. And I'm not saying you have to answer to me. I'm just saying…for the sake of my peace of mind…I'm asking you. I'm asking you to tell me where you're going and when, so I won't worry about it. Can you do that for me? Please?"
She met his eyes. Hers were wide, and for the first time, it felt as if she was understanding him—really hearing what he was saying and empathizing with it.
"I can do that," she said quietly.
"Thank you," James murmured.
A part of him wanted to reach out and take her hand, to pull her close and reassure himself physically that everything was all right. Nothing bad had happened, in spite of his overblown fears—she was still here, still safe.
He cleared his throat and stepped back. "Thank you," he said again. "I truly appreciate your cooperation. I'll do all I can to find you a husband you feel something for, Victoria." But the idea of her finding love with anyone at all made him feel as if his stomach was turning inside out.
As if responding directly to what was going on inside him, she shook her head. "I know it will never happen," she said quietly. "I've accepted that this is your house, James, and that I will have to do as you ask. I'll have to find another situation, and marriage might well be my only option. But I know that I will never fall in love. I know that's not going to be my future. I suppose I must be open to the prospect of a marriage—but for me, marriage will never be synonymous with love."
CHAPTER 25
"Idon't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you before."
Victoria smiled at the red-haired gentleman who had been seated next to her at tonight's dinner party. "I'm sure you know me by reputation," she said. "I'm the Dowager Duchess of Stormwell."
"Ah!" The gentleman's eyes widened, and so did his smile. "Well, I must say, you don't look anything like I imagined you would."
"I didn't realize I was at the forefront of so many imaginations," Victoria said. The idea didn't bother her nearly as much as it once might have.
"Oh, of course you are. You're one of the most interesting characters in all of London. Everyone has ideas about you."
"We haven't even been introduced properly, and already you're telling me your ideas about me."
The gentleman laughed. "True, we haven't," he said. "I'm Henry McLaren, Viscount of Harbury. It's a pleasure to officially make your acquaintance, Your Grace."
"It's lovely to meet you too," Victoria said.
"I heard a rumor that you might be looking for a new husband."
Victoria laughed. "You don't waste any time, do you?"
"I'm not fond of wasting time, no. Is the rumor true?"
"Well, are you sure you want to know?"
"Why wouldn't I want to know?"
"If you're familiar with my reputation, then you already know what people say happened to my last husband. It surprises me that anyone would take an interest in becoming my next husband."
Lord Harbury laughed. "I didn't say that I had an interest in becoming your husband."
Victoria thought that perhaps she should have been embarrassed, but she wasn't. She simply laughed. "True enough.You didn't say that. And yet I have to wonder why you are asking this question at all if you have no such interest."
"Perhaps I am a gossip."
"If you were a gossip, you would be talking behind my back, not speaking to me directly. I am more than familiar with the way gossips operate."
"I suppose you would have an unusual amount of familiarity with gossip," Lord Harbury agreed. "Well, let it be enough for now that I simply wish to get to know you better. This is the first chance you and I have had to speak to one another at all. We have a rare opportunity."
"Do we? What opportunity is that?"
